These Detroiters seek nomination for a new USDA advisory commission on urban ag

The 2018 Farm Bill established the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and directed the USDA to form this advisory committee as well as make other advancements related to urban agriculture.

By Biba Adams
Model D
May 24, 2021

Excerpt:

he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for a new 12-member national advisory committee on urban agriculture, and a Detroit group has a slate of potential candidates, any of whom could represent Detroit on the national body.

The effort is part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The Detroit USDA Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee Support Network advisory committee is encouraging Detroiters to complete a short Google Form to endorse one or more candidates. The form asks the respondent for their name and email address which will be used to sign on to a letter to the USDA supporting the Detroit nominees.

By providing contact information, endorsees will digitally support the slate of nominees. The press release notes: “your endorsement will help send a strong signal to the USDA to select committee members who represent, and are accountable to Detroit’s Urban Agricultural endeavors.”

The potential candidates for the national advisory committee are:

Kami Pothukuchi- SEED Wayne, Wayne State University
Renee V. Wallace- FoodPLUS Detroit
Kathryn Lynch Underwood- City of Detroit Planning Commission
Anthony Hatinger- Detroit Ento, formerly CDC Urban Farms and Fishery
Pashon Murray- Detroit Dirt
Jerry Ann Hebron- Oakland Avenue Urban Farm
Erin Cole- Nurturing Our Seeds

Read the complete article here.